‘Extremely rare’ Bob Dylan draft lyrics discovered inside Allen Ginsberg book

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Published on April 2, 2026

A torn page bearing draft lyrics for his iconic 1967 song “I’m Not There” has been uncovered, hidden inside a paperback Allen Ginsberg. This remarkable find, nearly 60 years after its original creation, is set to be auctioned in April, with estimates suggesting it could fetch around £40,000.

The discovery highlights a notable period in music history when Dylan was at the height of his creativity. In the summer of 1967, just outside Woodstock, the legendary singer-songwriter penned an impressive repertoire of over 100 songs with his backing group, The Band. Among these compositions was “I’m Not There,” a track that has continued to resonate with audiences long after its release.

While a small collection of recordings from that prolific summer surfaced eight years later through Columbia Records, many of Dylan’s songs, including “I’m Not There,” would only see the light of day in the decades that followed. The current auction of the draft lyrics serves as a rare glimpse into Dylan’s songwriting process during a transformative era in his career.

As collectors and fans await the auction, excitement builds around the potential impact this discovery may have on Dylan’s legacy and the broader cultural narrative of the 1960s music scene. This extraordinary find not only adds to the allure of Dylan’s oeuvre but also underscores the enduring bond between poetry and music, embodied of Ginsberg and his contemporaries.

The upcoming auction is expected to attract bidders from around the globe, all eager to own a piece of rock history that encapsulates a pivotal moment in American music.

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